Maternal Higher Education in Prison: An Exploration of its Relationship with Children’s Academic Attainment

• In Event: Poster Session 2

Abstract

Women incarceration is growing at an alarming rate with an increase of 525% between 1980 and 2021 (Sentencing Project, 2023) . The majority of incarcerated women are mothers of minor children for whom they cared prior to their incarceration (ACLU, 2007) . Studies have been conducted to assess the effect maternal incarceration has on children, and it was found that children who have an incarcerated mother have attachment issues putting them at a greater risk for academic failure and delinquent behavior (Dallaire, 2007) . Higher education in prison has been found to have positive outcomes on incarcerated individuals and their family relationships (Pelletier & Evans, 2019) . Through a quantitative investigation, I conducted a pilot study to explore the relationship between maternal higher education in prison and their children’s academic attainment.

Author

• Lisette B. Hughes, Hofstra University / Columbia University